scholarly journals Phase separation of YAP reorganizes genome topology for long-term, YAP target gene expression

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danfeng Cai ◽  
Daniel Feliciano ◽  
Peng Dong ◽  
Eduardo Flores ◽  
Martin Gruebele ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Target Gene ◽  
Gene Activation ◽  
Super Resolution ◽  
Transcriptional Responses ◽  
Chromatin Domains ◽  
Pol Ii ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Accessible Chromatin

Yes-associated Protein (YAP) is a transcriptional co-activator that regulates cell proliferation and survival by binding to a selective set of enhancers for potent target gene activation, but how YAP coordinates these transcriptional responses is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that YAP forms liquid-like condensates in the nucleus in response to macromolecular crowding. Formed within seconds of hyperosmotic stress, YAP condensates compartmentalized YAP’s DNA binding cofactor TEAD1 along with other YAP-related transcription co-activators, including TAZ, and subsequently induced transcription of YAP-specific proliferation genes. Super-resolution imaging using Assay for Transposase Accessible Chromatin with photoactivated localization microscopy (ATAC-PALM) revealed that YAP nuclear condensates were areas enriched in accessible chromatin domains organized as super-enhancers. Initially devoid of RNA Polymerase II (Pol II), the accessible chromatin domains later acquired Pol II, producing newly transcribed RNA. Removal of YAP’s intrinsically-disordered transcription activation domain (TAD) prevented YAP condensate formation and diminished downstream YAP signaling. Thus, dynamic changes in genome organization and gene activation during YAP reprogramming is mediated by liquid-liquid phase separation.

scholarly journals Transient DNA Binding Induces RNA Polymerase II Compartmentalization During Herpesviral Infection Distinct From Phase Separation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
David T McSwiggen ◽  
Anders S Hansen ◽  
Hervé Marie-Nelly ◽  
Sheila Teves ◽  
Alec B Heckert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Viral Dna ◽  
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 ◽  
Pol Ii ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Regions ◽  
Simplex Virus

SummaryDuring lytic infection, Herpes Simplex Virus 1 generates replication compartments (RCs) in host nuclei that efficiently recruit protein factors, including host RNA Polymerase II (Pol II). Pol II and other cellular factors form hubs in uninfected cells that are proposed to phase separate via multivalent protein-protein interactions mediated by their intrinsically disordered regions. Using a battery of live cell microscopic techniques, we show that although RCs superficially exhibit many characteristics of phase separation, the recruitment of Pol II instead derives from nonspecific interactions with the viral DNA. We find that the viral genome remains nucleosome-free, profoundly affecting the way Pol II explores RCs by causing it to repetitively visit nearby binding sites, thereby creating local Pol II accumulations. This mechanism, distinct from phase separation, allows viral DNA to outcompete host DNA for cellular proteins. Our work provides new insights into the strategies used to create local molecular hubs in cells.

scholarly journals RNA polymerase II clustering through CTD phase separation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Boehning ◽  
C. Dugast-Darzacq ◽  
M. Rankovic ◽  
A. S. Hansen ◽  
T. Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Low Complexity ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Pol Ii ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Ctd Phosphorylation

The carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase (Pol) II is an intrinsically disordered low-complexity region that is critical for pre-mRNA transcription and processing. The CTD consists of hepta-amino acid repeats varying in number from 52 in humans to 26 in yeast. Here we report that human and yeast CTDs undergo cooperative liquid phase separation at increasing protein concentration, with the shorter yeast CTD forming less stable droplets. In human cells, truncation of the CTD to the length of the yeast CTD decreases Pol II clustering and chromatin association whereas CTD extension has the opposite effect. CTD droplets can incorporate intact Pol II and are dissolved by CTD phosphorylation with the transcription initiation factor IIH kinase CDK7. Together with published data, our results suggest that Pol II forms clusters/hubs at active genes through interactions between CTDs and with activators, and that CTD phosphorylation liberates Pol II enzymes from hubs for promoter escape and transcription elongation.

scholarly journals Evidence for DNA-mediated nuclear compartmentalization distinct from phase separation

eLife ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Trombley McSwiggen ◽  
Anders S Hansen ◽  
Sheila S Teves ◽  
Hervé Marie-Nelly ◽  
Yvonne Hao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Dna Binding Proteins ◽  
Pol Ii ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Regions ◽  
Simplex Virus

RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) and transcription factors form concentrated hubs in cells via multivalent protein-protein interactions, often mediated by proteins with intrinsically disordered regions. During Herpes Simplex Virus infection, viral replication compartments (RCs) efficiently enrich host Pol II into membraneless domains, reminiscent of liquid-liquid phase separation. Despite sharing several properties with phase-separated condensates, we show that RCs operate via a distinct mechanism wherein unrestricted nonspecific protein-DNA interactions efficiently outcompete host chromatin, profoundly influencing the way DNA-binding proteins explore RCs. We find that the viral genome remains largely nucleosome-free, and this increase in accessibility allows Pol II and other DNA-binding proteins to repeatedly visit nearby DNA binding sites. This anisotropic behavior creates local accumulations of protein factors despite their unrestricted diffusion across RC boundaries. Our results reveal underappreciated consequences of nonspecific DNA binding in shaping gene activity, and suggest additional roles for chromatin in modulating nuclear function and organization.

scholarly journals A histidine cluster determines YY1-compartmentalized coactivators and chromatin elements in phase-separated super-enhancers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenmeng Wang ◽  
Shiyao Qiao ◽  
Guangyue Li ◽  
Cuicui Yang ◽  
Chen Zhong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Target Gene ◽  
Gene Activation ◽  
Transactivation Domain ◽  
Yin Yang 1 ◽  
Oncogenic Transcription Factor ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

As an oncogenic transcription factor, Yin Yang 1 (YY1) regulates enhancer and promoter connection. However, gaps still exist in understanding how YY1 coordinates coactivators and chromatin elements to assemble super-enhancers. Here, we demonstrate that YY1 activates FOXM1 gene expression through forming liquid-liquid phase separation to compartmentalize both coactivators and enhancer elements. In the transactivation domain of YY1, a histidine cluster is essential for its activities of forming phase separation, which can be extended to additional proteins. Coactivators EP300, BRD4, MED1 and active RNA polymerase II are components of YY1-rich nuclear puncta. Consistently, histone markers for gene activation, but not repression, colocalize with YY1. Importantly, multiple enhancer elements and the FOXM1 promoter are bridged by YY1 to form super-enhancers. These studies propose that YY1 is a general transcriptional activator, and promotes phase separation with incorporation of major coactivators and stabilization by distal enhancers to activate target gene expression.

Genome-wide regulations of the pre-initiation complex formation and elongating RNA polymerase II by an E3 ubiquitin ligase, San1.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyanka Barman ◽  
Rwik Sen ◽  
Amala Kaja ◽  
Jannatul Ferdoush ◽  
Shalini Guha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Ubiquitin Ligase ◽  
Nuclear Protein ◽  
Protein Quality ◽  
Initiation Complex ◽  
Pol Ii ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Genome Wide

San1 ubiquitin ligase is involved in nuclear protein quality control via its interaction with intrinsically disordered proteins for ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation. Since several transcription/chromatin regulatory factors contain intrinsically disordered domains and can be inhibitory to transcription when in excess, San1 might be involved in transcription regulation. To address this, we analyzed the role of San1 in genome-wide association of TBP [that nucleates pre-initiation complex (PIC) formation for transcription initiation] and RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Our results reveal the roles of San1 in regulating TBP recruitment to the promoters and Pol II association with the coding sequences, and hence PIC formation and coordination of elongating Pol II, respectively. Consistently, transcription is altered in the absence of San1. Such transcriptional alteration is associated with impaired ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation of Spt16 and gene association of Paf1, but not the incorporation of centromeric histone, Cse4, into the active genes in Δsan1 . Collectively, our results demonstrate distinct functions of a nuclear protein quality control factor in regulating the genome-wide PIC formation and elongating Pol II (and hence transcription), thus unraveling new gene regulatory mechanisms.

scholarly journals CTCF Interacts with and Recruits the Largest Subunit of RNA Polymerase II to CTCF Target Sites Genome-Wide

2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 1631-1648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Chernukhin ◽  
Shaharum Shamsuddin ◽  
Sung Yun Kang ◽  
Rosita Bergström ◽  
Yoo-Wook Kwon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Gene Activation ◽  
Ctcf Binding ◽  
Pol Ii ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Target Sites ◽  
On Chip

ABSTRACT CTCF is a transcription factor with highly versatile functions ranging from gene activation and repression to the regulation of insulator function and imprinting. Although many of these functions rely on CTCF-DNA interactions, it is an emerging realization that CTCF-dependent molecular processes involve CTCF interactions with other proteins. In this study, we report the association of a subpopulation of CTCF with the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) protein complex. We identified the largest subunit of Pol II (LS Pol II) as a protein significantly colocalizing with CTCF in the nucleus and specifically interacting with CTCF in vivo and in vitro. The role of CTCF as a link between DNA and LS Pol II has been reinforced by the observation that the association of LS Pol II with CTCF target sites in vivo depends on intact CTCF binding sequences. “Serial” chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis revealed that both CTCF and LS Pol II were present at the β-globin insulator in proliferating HD3 cells but not in differentiated globin synthesizing HD3 cells. Further, a single wild-type CTCF target site (N-Myc-CTCF), but not the mutant site deficient for CTCF binding, was sufficient to activate the transcription from the promoterless reporter gene in stably transfected cells. Finally, a ChIP-on-ChIP hybridization assay using microarrays of a library of CTCF target sites revealed that many intergenic CTCF target sequences interacted with both CTCF and LS Pol II. We discuss the possible implications of our observations with respect to plausible mechanisms of transcriptional regulation via a CTCF-mediated direct link of LS Pol II to the DNA.

scholarly journals Phase separation of TAZ compartmentalizes the transcription machinery to promote gene expression

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiantian Wu ◽  
Yi Lu ◽  
Orit Gutman ◽  
Huasong Lu ◽  
Qiang Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Target Gene ◽  
Coiled Coil ◽  
Separation Mechanism ◽  
Hippo Signaling ◽  
Transcriptional Responses ◽  
Coiled Coil Domain

AbstractTAZ promotes cell proliferation, development, and tumorigenesis by regulating target gene transcription. However, how TAZ orchestrates the transcriptional responses remains poorly defined. Here we demonstrate that TAZ forms nuclear condensates via liquid-liquid phase separation to compartmentalize its DNA binding co-factor TEAD4, the transcription co-activators BRD4 and MED1 and the transcription elongation factor CDK9 for activation of gene expression. TAZ, but not its paralog YAP, forms phase-separated droplets in vitro and liquid-like nuclear condensates in vivo, and this ability is negatively regulated by Hippo signaling via LATS-mediated phosphorylation and mediated by the coiled-coil domain. Deletion of the TAZ coiled-coil domain or substitution with the YAP coiled-coil domain does not affect the interaction of TAZ with its partners, but prevents its phase separation and more importantly, its ability to induce target gene expression. Thus, our study identifies a novel mechanism for the transcriptional activation by TAZ and demonstrates for the first time that pathway-specific transcription factors also engage the phase separation mechanism for efficient transcription activation.

scholarly journals Transcription organizes euchromatin similar to an active microemulsion

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lennart Hilbert ◽  
Yuko Sato ◽  
Hiroshi Kimura ◽  
Frank Jülicher ◽  
Alf Honigmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Super Resolution ◽  
Live Cell ◽  
Live Cell Microscopy ◽  
Cell Microscopy

Chromatin is organized into heterochromatin, which is transcriptionally inactive, and euchromatin, which can switch between transcriptionally active and inactive states. This switch in euchromatin activity is accompanied by changes in its spatial distribution. How euchromatin rearrangements are established is unknown. Here we use super-resolution and live-cell microscopy to show that transcriptionally inactive euchromatin moves away from transcriptionally active euchromatin. This movement is driven by the formation of RNA-enriched microenvironments that exclude inactive euchromatin. Using theory, we show that the segregation into RNA-enriched microenvironments and euchromatin domains can be considered an active microemulsion. The tethering of transcripts to chromatin via RNA polymerase II forms effective amphiphiles that intersperse the two segregated phases. Taken together with previous experiments, our data suggest that chromatin is organized in the following way: heterochromatin segregates from euchromatin by phase separation, while transcription organizes euchromatin similar to an active microemulsion.

scholarly journals m6A-binding YTHDF proteins promote stress granule formation by modulating phase separation of stress granule proteins

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ye Fu ◽  
Xiaowei Zhuang
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Super Resolution ◽  
Stress Granule ◽  
Granule Formation ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Condensate Formation ◽  
Resolution Imaging

AbstractDiverse RNAs and RNA-binding proteins form phase-separated, membraneless granules in cells under stress conditions. However, the role of the prevalent mRNA methylation, m6A, and its binding proteins in stress granule (SG) assembly remain unclear. Here, we show that m6A-modified mRNAs are enriched in SGs, and that m6A-binding YTHDF proteins are critical for SG formation. Depletion of YTHDF1/3 inhibits SG formation and recruitment of m6A-modified mRNAs to SGs. Both the N-terminal intrinsically disordered region and the C-terminal m6A-binding YTH domain of YTHDF proteins are crucial for SG formation. Super-resolution imaging further reveals that YTHDF proteins are in a super-saturated state, forming clusters that reside in the periphery of and at the junctions between SG core clusters, and promote SG phase separation by reducing the activation energy barrier and critical size for condensate formation. Our results reveal a new function and mechanistic insights of the m6A-binding YTHDF proteins in regulating phase separation.

scholarly journals ENL initiates multivalent phase separation of the super elongation complex (SEC) in controlling rapid transcriptional activation

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (14) ◽  
pp. eaay4858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenghao Guo ◽  
Zhuanzhuan Che ◽  
Junjie Yue ◽  
Peng Xie ◽  
Shaohua Hao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Liquid Droplet ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Elongation Factor ◽  
Elongation Complex ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Super Elongation Complex

Release of paused RNA polymerase II (Pol II) requires incorporation of the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) into the super elongation complex (SEC), thus resulting in rapid yet synchronous transcriptional activation. However, the mechanism underlying dynamic transition of P-TEFb from inactive to active state remains unclear. Here, we found that the SEC components are able to compartmentalize and concentrate P-TEFb via liquid-liquid phase separation from the soluble inactive HEXIM1 containing the P-TEFb complex. Specifically, ENL or its intrinsically disordered region is sufficient to initiate the liquid droplet formation of SEC. AFF4 functions together with ENL in fluidizing SEC droplets. SEC droplets are fast and dynamically formed upon serum exposure and required for rapid transcriptional induction. We also found that the fusion of ENL with MLL can boost SEC phase separation. In summary, our results suggest a critical role of multivalent phase separation of SEC in controlling transcriptional pause release.

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